Brentina Withdrawn from WEG Competition

August 24, 2006 -- The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announced today that Brentina and Debbie McDonald will withdraw from the remainder of the dressage competition at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) due to a veterinary concern.

Team vet Dr. Tim Ober said, "Brentina had a slight swelling [in her right hind] after the competition on Wednesday. While a diagnosis is pending further evaluation by USEF veterinary staff, Debbie McDonald and Klaus Balkenhol have decided it is not in the best interest of Brentina to ask her to continue in the individual competition at these games."

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"It was in the last extended trot yesterday when I felt her take some tentative steps," McDonald said. "I rode conservatively in the competition and she went fine, but it was a concern. She seems okay today, but in conferring with our vets, the best decision for Brentina is to withdraw her. We came here to compete for the team, we have achieved that goal, and we're very happy."

Chef d'Equipe Klaus Balkenhol added, "Brentina is a fantastic mare and a true treasure, to do anything but take the conservative route and withdraw her would be very wrong. I'm so proud of Debbie's ride yesterday, and I'm proud of her decision to withdraw. We look forward to the Special and potentially the Freestyle with Steffen Peters and Floriano and Guenter Seidel and Aragon, both very solid horse and rider teams."

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Visit EquiSearch's WEG dressage section for the complete scoop, plus an audio interview with Debbie McDonald. Chat about the WEG with fellow fans at forum.equisearch.com.

The world's best dressage riders will compete for individual medals in the Grand Prix Special and Freestyle for the first time since 1994 at the FEI World Equestrian Games. Find out about the competition and who the top contenders are.